GARDEN waste - green bin - collections have been cancelled so that council staff can focus on making sure household black bin rounds continue.

And delivery of new recycling boxes and bin has also been paused.

Anyone who bought an additional garden waste bin as part of the subscription will be given a refund. The green waste bin collections were due to start in April.

Council staff from other departments have been helping the waste collection team during the coronavirus outbreak.

And bus drivers from First and Pullman have volunteered to help drive bin lorries during the crisis - so that bin collections can continue.

Staff are being given wipes, hand gel and new gloves every day.  But at this stage, face masks are not being handed out, in line with public health advice.

Cllr Paula Widdowson, executive member for environment, said: “This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly and this doesn’t mean we don’t want residents to garden.

"In some cases, this is more important than ever to keep active – particularly when self-isolating.

“We are encouraging residents to recycle and compost where possible and to support this, we have published advice for easy composting at home.

“If you’re unable to compost, then we’re asking residents to store their garden waste when possible, and we will collect it at a later date.”

Other changes to waste services:

  • St Nick's waste collection services continue as normal - the organisation picks up recycling from about 2,000 properties that are difficult to reach with bin lorries
  • Both tips at Hazel Court and Towthorpe are closed to residents - but remain open for commercial use by builders
  • All bulky waste collections are suspended

For more information visit york.gov.uk/waste.